S01 E03 - Trouble at Tresendar Manor Part 3

Synopsis
The fearless ladies (and Sildar) try to solve the case of the missing Banik brothers with some scrappy fighting and sweet talk along the way. This is the last of the original content adventure, Trouble at Tresendar Manor, written by the DM Kat Kruger.

Into the Cavern
After finding the second Banik brother, the Dames try to figure out a way to search for a potential third gnome down in a cavern where a lizard-like creature awaits. Riot Bonezerker spreads her wings and carries Rose Lao into the darkness. There are two wooden footbridges crossing the crevasse and Riot can see that someone has been tunneling down there. The northern bridge is covered in caltrops. Riot drops Rose on the opposite side of the bridge and Riot goes back to Nevar Moor, Sildar Hallwinter, Davver Banik, and Bilnan Banik.

While Rose stands in the dark at the bottom of the cavern, she hears a voice call to a giant lizard named Zardo, ordering it to attack. Riot immediately runs back toward Rose and tries to jump onto the giant lizard but is shrugged off. The Dames, with the help of Sildar and the found Banik brothers, then enter combat with this lizard.

Just a Big Misunderstanding
Rose then has the brilliant idea to try and smoke out the source of the voices by sticking her torch through some cavern murder holes, resulting in an eye injury for one of the creatures on the other side. With this, conversation is spurred, through which they find out that they have intruded upon what has become the home for a group of kobolds. The kobolds attacked the Dames thinking they were invading or trying to steal their gems. Rose explains that they are in search of three missing gnomes, which the kobolds are not excited to hear about.

After more conversation, the Dames discover that these kobolds work for Sniv's Traps & Tunnels. Sniv, a winged kobold, comes out from behind the cavern wall to talk with the Dames. The conversation leads to the topic of who owns the manor. In response, Sildar comes out of hiding to introduce himself and Sniv reveals that the kobolds work for Olf Undercroft, who they believe owns the manor. Sildar negotiates a new contract with the kobolds whereas they can continue tunneling but under Sildar's name.

Continuing the Search
Sniv has Meepo, one of the kobolds who designed some of the traps the Dames have encountered, guide them through the tunnels to find the remaining Banik brothers. In an effort to not upset the kobolds any more than they have to, they leave Bilnan and Davver in the storage room. By way of the northern staircase, the Dames enter into a workshop and Riot finds Jonwont Banik hiding under the workbench.

Off of the work room is Sniv's quarters where Riot compliments her traps and they discuss potential improvements. Meepo then brings them to another room that is covered in tapestries depicting reptilian creatures doing day-to-day activities. Behind one of the tapestries is another Banik brother: Travver. After some attempts to guess the final brother's name, Travver informs the Dames that they're looking for Rickroll Banik. Meepo guides the Dames to the final room, which is the kobold quarters. They meet Meepo's weasel named Weezer but don't find the final gnome.

Upon exiting the room, the Dames are once again back out by the crevasse and Zardo is digging at something in it. Nevar is then reminded of the work boot she saw under the guard rail. Nevar sends Quoth to swoop down into the crevasse and sees that Zardo was clawing at a treasure chest that is partially buried in a hole. As Quoth gets closer to the chest, he hears breathing from within the chest. Riot flies down to retrieve Rickroll from the treasure chest.

Preserving History
From the end of the southern tunnel exit, Olf Undercroft appears and demands to know what the Dames are doing in his manor. He claims the manor is his inheritance from the battle that had happened in Phandalin generations ago. Riot suggests that the manor should become an historical landmark that is owned both by the Undercroft family as well as the town. Sildar agrees to sort it out with the town council.

PCs

 * Nevar Moor played by Essie Hollman
 * Riot Bonezerker played by Jen Vaughn
 * Rose Lao played by Meris Mullaley

NPCs

 * Bilnan Banik, Gnome
 * Davver Banik
 * Jonwont Banik, Gnome
 * Meepo, Kobold
 * Olf Undercroft, Half-Orc
 * Rickroll Banik, Gnome
 * Sildar Hallwinter played by Brittni Liyanage
 * Sniv (of Sniv's Traps & Tunnels), Kobold

Visited

 * Phandalin
 * Tresendar Manor

Quotes

 * "You talkin' to me? Did you just call me a bonehead? What do I look like? A Skeleton?" - Meepo (17:33)
 * "Woah, woah, woah! You're telling me we've got a gnome infestation?" - Sniv (37:24)

Trivia

 * Meepo is named after the famous Meepo from The Sunless Citadel.